Intakes covered: Winter semester 2027/28, Summer semester 2027. Facts last checked 2026-10-09; next review due 2027-01-15. Amounts change (often every 1 January) – the linked official page always prevails.
Get your personal dated version free (with your nationality and start date) and, if you like, a motivation-letter critique and Europass-style CV: Open the free checklist
Check the programme page: some German universities use uni-assist, some want a VPD (preliminary review documentation) from uni-assist and then a direct application, some take direct applications only. uni-assist costs €75 for the first choice and €30 for each extra choice in the same semester (also for VPD). The fee is not refunded if you are not admitted.
Sources: uni-assist – Handling fees (EUR 75 first, EUR 30 each additional; same for VPD) (checked 2026-10-09)
With Indian school or university documents you need an APS certificate before you apply. Register at aps-india.de, pay INR 18,000 (non-refundable) and send copies by courier. Some Master applicants must take the dMAT test first (from the summer semester 2027 intake). Start early: German universities and the visa section ask for it.
Sources: APS India – Information leaflet, valid as of June 2026 (fee INR 18,000, non-refundable; dMAT) (checked 2026-10-09)
With Chinese school or university documents you need an APS certificate (China procedure: RMB 2,500, not refundable). Register at aps.org.cn and plan time for the interview or TestAS.
Sources: APS China – Fees (China procedure RMB 2,500; since 7 April 2025) (checked 2026-10-09)
With a Vietnamese university degree you need an APS certificate (fee USD 250, not refundable). APS interviews are in May and November; send documents by the end of February (May interview) or the end of August (November interview).
Sources: German Embassy Hanoi – APS standard procedure (USD 250; interviews May and November) (checked 2026-10-09)
Get the language certificate your programme asks for (German or English). Without a preparatory language course, the visa section usually expects at least B2 in the language of instruction – check the page of the German mission for your country.
Sources: German Embassy Accra – Visa for students (blocked account EUR 11,904 / EUR 992 per month, health insurance, fee EUR 75) (checked 2026-10-09)
For direct entry to a Bachelor or Master, the German missions in India generally expect C1 in the study language (German or English), proven by a recognised certificate such as Goethe/Max Mueller Bhavan, ÖSD or telc (German) or IELTS (English). Duolingo, Pearson PTE and TOEFL home edition are not accepted for applications in India.
Sources: German Missions in India – Studies visa (APS, language C1 for direct degree entry, blocked account EUR 11,904 / EUR 992 per month), updated 16 Feb 2026 (checked 2026-10-09)
Deadlines are set by each university and programme. Write the exact deadline from your programme page into your calendar and submit 2–3 weeks earlier so missing documents can still be added.
Planning tip (no official date).
Most students prove money with a blocked account: at least €11,904 for the first year (€992 per month, figure in use in 2026). Open it BEFORE your visa application; the visa section only accepts the official confirmation showing the amount paid in and the monthly amount. Other proofs (formal obligation letter, scholarship) are possible.
Sources: German Embassy Accra – Visa for students (blocked account EUR 11,904 / EUR 992 per month, health insurance, fee EUR 75) (checked 2026-10-09) · Federal Foreign Office – Opening and closing a blocked account (checked 2026-10-09) · For IN: German Missions in India – Studies visa (APS, language C1 for direct degree entry, blocked account EUR 11,904 / EUR 992 per month), updated 16 Feb 2026 (checked 2026-10-09) · Federal Foreign Office – Visas for Germany (national visa fee EUR 75) (checked 2026-10-09)
You need incoming health insurance from entry until enrolment and statutory/national health insurance from enrolment. Travel insurance alone is not enough.
Sources: German Embassy Accra – Visa for students (blocked account EUR 11,904 / EUR 992 per month, health insurance, fee EUR 75) (checked 2026-10-09) · For IN: German Missions in India – Studies visa (APS, language C1 for direct degree entry, blocked account EUR 11,904 / EUR 992 per month), updated 16 Feb 2026 (checked 2026-10-09) · Federal Foreign Office – Visas for Germany (national visa fee EUR 75) (checked 2026-10-09)
Apply at the German mission (often through the Consular Services Portal) with your admission letter, proof of money, insurance and certificates. Fee: €75. The mission may need to involve the authority in Germany, so apply as early as you can.
Sources: German Embassy Accra – Visa for students (blocked account EUR 11,904 / EUR 992 per month, health insurance, fee EUR 75) (checked 2026-10-09) · Federal Foreign Office – Visas for Germany (national visa fee EUR 75) (checked 2026-10-09) · For IN: German Missions in India – Studies visa (APS, language C1 for direct degree entry, blocked account EUR 11,904 / EUR 992 per month), updated 16 Feb 2026 (checked 2026-10-09) · Federal Foreign Office – Visas for Germany (national visa fee EUR 75) (checked 2026-10-09)
APS is required for applicants with documents from: IN, CN, VN (India, China, Vietnam).